The Great Seal of the State of Hawaii is circular in shape with a heraldic shield in the center. The first and fourth quarters of the shield display the white, red, and blue stripes of Ka Hae Hawaiʻi or the flag of Hawaiʻi. The second and third quarters are on a yellow field with a white Puloʻuloʻu, or kapu sticks with tapa-covered balls on the end. In the center of the heraldic shield is a green escutcheon with a five-pointed yellow star in the center. To the left side of the shield is Kamehameha I, standing in the attitude as represented by the bronze statue in front of Ali'iolani Hale, Honolulu. His cloak and helmet are in yellow. Kamehameha I's figure is in natural colors. Kamehameha I unified the Hawaiian Islands into a single united kingdom. On the right side is goddess Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and laurel wreath. She is holding Ka Hae Hawaiʻi in her right hand that is partly unfurled. On top of the shield, a rising sun irradiated in gold surrounded by the legend "State of Hawaii, 1959" on a scroll in black lettering. Below the heraldic shield, the bird phoenix has it wings outstretched arising from flames. The phoenix's body is black and wings half yellow and half dark red. Below the heraldic shield are eight taro leaves having on either side banana foliage and sprays of maidenhair fern trailed upwardly. The state motto, Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, is on the scroll on the seal's bottom in gold lettering.

Hawaiian Seal

State seal symbolism

1959 represents the year of admission into the Union as a state.

The rising sun represents the birth of a new state and the bright future ahead of it

King Kamehameha the Great represents glorious past of Hawaii and the Goddess of Liberty represents bright future for Hawaii

The eight stripes in two of the quarters of the shield represent the eight main (inhabited) islands.

The Puloʻuloʻu, or tabu ball and stick, in the second and third quarters of the shield, was carried before the king and placed before the door of his home, signifying his authority and power. In the seal it is a symbol of the authority and power of the government.

The star in the middle of the shield signifies the fiftieth star added to the United States flag.

The phoenix, symbol of resurrection and rejuvenation, symbolizes the change from the monarchy to a free, democratic form of government.

The eight taro leaves, flanked by banana foliage and maidenhair fern are typical Hawaiian flora and represent the eight main islands. Taro is the traditional staff of life and has great spiritual significance. Taro is also still cultivated and is the ingredient of the popular dish called poi.

The state motto, "'Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono", "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness," is retained from the royal coat of arms.